Womack Remarks at FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will come to order.

Welcome to the subcommittee markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Welcome Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Ranking Member Clyburn.

The bill we are considering today meets our Nation’s most critical transportation and housing needs while reducing excessive spending and regulatory burdens.

The discretionary allocation in the bill is $89.9 billion, $4.5 billion below the Fiscal Year 2025 level. This is a 5% reduction in spending, while cutting even deeper to accommodate $3.7 billion in member projects. When accounting for $1.5 billion in fewer housing receipts, actual spending is $6 billion below FY25.

We have carefully allocated resources to the most critical missions at DOT and HUD while implementing significant reforms.

The bill prioritizes transportation safety -- on our railways, roads and airways -- and ensures a responsible safety net with housing support for our most vulnerable citizens, especially the elderly, the disabled, veterans, and the working poor.

We have eliminated or reduced 38 programs, totaling $7.3 billion in savings. Additionally, we are redirecting over $4 billion from programs funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to real infrastructure: air traffic control, highways, maritime, and rail.

This bill reflects the priorities of the Trump Administration and implements staffing reductions while maintaining essential services.

Transportation safety remains our highest priority for DOT.

The bill provides $5 billion for FAA facilities and equipment, a nearly $2 billion increase over FY25. This investment builds on the historic funding the FAA received in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” for technology updates and facility improvements that will maintain America’s global leadership in aviation. 

We prioritize safety, U.S. competitiveness, and investment in American infrastructure by protecting safety-related positions and allocating over $4 billion to airport improvement projects.

The bill provides funding to train and hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers to backfill the retiring workforce and deploy controllers to understaffed facilities.

We maintain $514 million for the Essential Air Service program, protecting service to 56 communities that the budget request would have eliminated.

This bill provides $63.4 billion for highways and bridges through the highway trust fund, a $1.3 billion increase. These resources are directly allocated to state departments of transportation, enabling state and local governments to collaborate on high priority road projects.

The bill provides $200 million for tribal transportation and $200 million for truck parking, enhancing safety and improving the flow of commerce.

The bill provides $925 million for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and $1.4 billion for the National Network through a transfer from the IIJA Fed-State Partnership program, which under the Biden Administration was used to fund wasteful high-speed rail projects. 

The bill provides $500 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program, supporting freight rail infrastructure.

The bill supports DOT’s maritime mission with $481 million for strategic sealift programs, including a $62 million increase for the Maritime Security Program and a $31 million increase for the Tanker Security Program.

We provide $184 million for the US Merchant Marine Academy and $91 million for State Maritime Academies, including $32 million to kick-start a 10-year capital improvement plan.

The bill meets our responsibility to support our most vulnerable citizens who rely on housing assistance while implementing fiscal discipline.

The funds provided in the bill support authorized rental assistance programs at a fiscally responsible level of $50 billion for Section 8 vouchers, Project Based Rental Assistance, and programs that serve the elderly and disabled. This is roughly equal to FY25 levels. With the flexibilities provided to HUD, we expect the Department to prioritize the 80,000 Veterans Affairs Supportive vouchers that are currently under lease. 

The bill provides $4.16 billion for homeless assistance grants, a 2.6% increase over enacted levels, including $3.8 billion for the Continuum of Care program.

We fund the Community Development Block Grants at $3.3 billion, maintaining a program that was proposed for elimination. As a former mayor, I know how important this program is to meet local needs—from affordable housing rehabilitation to programs like Meals on Wheels and Boys and Girls Clubs.

We do not provide further funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, as only 16% of the $5 billion in COVID HOME funding is expended.

This bill implements significant government reforms consistent with the Trump Administration’s priorities. The bill reflects a 5% total staffing cut across all departments and agencies, while ensuring DOT’s safety positions are fully funded. 

We have included general provisions that reinforce Trump Administration policies on climate, immigration, regulatory burden, and innovation.